Thank you, you do NOT have to obtain a scholarship to choose Marine Corps Option, correct?
The short and direct answer to your question is yes. You can enroll in NROTC Marine Option or Navy Option without a scholarship. There are opportunities to win a scholarship along the way. The kicker is that if you do not win a scholarship, you must be awarded what's called 'advanced standing' between sophomore and junior years. This is something you apply for and your application is reviewed by a national board. That's right, it's a national competition. The number they need to get out of this process varies year to year and there always seems to be more folks applying than there are slots... so no guarantee there. Again, your best chance is to work hard, give it your all, and be at the high end of the leader/scholar/athlete scale.
I thought I'd also expand a bit on drop rates that
@NavyHoops alluded to. I already mentioned the drop rate at OCS in my earlier post. Hoops is right, OCS is no joke, and she would know even better than me. My kid lost 15-20 lbs while there. A LOT of physical activity, knowledge learning, lack of sleep, getting wet, muddy, and dirty.
What I hadn't mentioned is the drop rate from NROTC. DS's freshman class started with 45 midshipmen, both Marine Option and Navy Option. They had a fairly tough orientation for a week prior to starting classes. When I say tough, I mean tough for kids who are new to this stuff. Every kid thought about dropping from the program that first week. 10 did drop, leaving 35. Others dropped along the way because they thought it wasn't the right path to their goals. Some dropped because they decided to focus on academics and do OCS after college. Some dropped because they thought they couldn't earn a scholarship and therefore thought it not worth the effort. Some dropped, even with a scholarship in hand, because they just didn't fit. (One was in my son's first squad... what a jerk!), Others were forced out because of DUIs, drunken barroom brawls, not meeting academic standards, and even taking a swing at a Sgt. during OCS. Some were not awarded advanced standing.
Of the 45 who started that first day, 15 commissioned, 6 of them Marines. This is similar to stories I've heard from other units, although the drop rate varies. NROTC is no cakewalk. It too takes dedication, hard work, physical training, leadership skills, and scholastic ability. In this sense too, pursuing the Marine Option in NROTC is no guarantee either.
Hope this is helpful.